I learned to drive in a very different world. It was not that long ago, I think, but things have changed. When I started driving, my parents gave me this booklet, called “city map.” We did not have navigators and could not ask google to get us anywhere. We relied on our city knowledge, directions from people, and print maps. If you got lost, you had to find a public telephone and call someone. Trip planning was paramount.
Many things have changed, and modern technology has made our lives easier in many ways. We can even speak to our phones and get directions, and self-driving cars are no longer science fiction. Yes, some things are easier, but one constant is still planning, especially for the important things. When you have a meeting or need to arrive at a particular time, you still benefit from checking the traffic, avoiding rush hour, and coming up with alternate routes.
The more intricate the journey, the more we all benefit from planning and strategizing ahead.
May things still go wrong midway through? Of course! It is life, and we constantly deal with curveballs. But when you plan, you train yourself and your brain to be ready, to have options, and the outcome is usually much better.
Planning for a remodel or development project should never be skipped. The larger the investment, the more benefits planning brings. Changing a doorknob may not require much thought, although you can always look at the other doorknobs in the house to match aesthetics and pay attention to the ultimate use. Anyway, if you chose the wrong doorknob, it may not be such a big deal as the investment is not significant. But as you move to more extensive renovations and the investment increases, planning becomes more critical.
As a rule of thumb, to arrive at a successful, satisfactory outcome, at least 10% of the budget should be allocated to planning. You may read more about planning previous blog entries: About a seed and About Direction.
Strategy development is a part of the Unfolding Line’s planning process. It is the very first part of the work and includes the feasibility study, client discovery sessions, research, and early schematic studies. While generally known as “Master Plan Development,” we prefer to call it strategic planning. Our clients have dreams, desires, wishes, but they also have a budget. They want to know the best way to develop while maximizing their investment and checking more boxes in their wish list.
We help our clients identify the opportunities and the constraints. We also enjoy converting constraints into opportunities! We develop a road map that brings clarity in terms of budget. Often, we find that the final design that will check all the boxes is outside the current budget. Here is when having a “road map” for your complete renovation is so helpful. We can develop a plan of action, divide it into phases or smaller chunks, advising when it is better to phase, when it could be more challenging, or when to change the strategy to accomplish more at once. Empowered with this “road map,” clients can make better decisions along the way that will support the outcome.
For instance, a while back, we helped a local family in View Park to develop a complete strategy for their home renovations. Among other things, they wanted to have a larger entertainment room and wanted to find the best way to increase the area. Their laundry area also was far away from the bedrooms, which was not very convenient for them. The current laundry was located right next to the playroom with access to the garden.
While doing the house analysis and exploration, we discovered an opportunity to expand the playroom, but we had to relocate the laundry room. The new location for the laundry was closer to the bedrooms, but they would have to have a stacked washer/dryer unit. They had to divide the entire house renovation into two phases due to budget, but this strategy study helped them make good decisions with the final goal in mind. They bought the stackable washer and dryer, and once they continued to the second phase, it was relocated.
The story above is just a small example of the value of a strategy. The applications are countless, but the most crucial part is that having a plan, an idea of where you are going, with the knowledge of the different possibilities and stops, brings peace of mind and allows you to move forward with more certainty.
Do you have questions about the possibilities for your renovation or the best way to strategize it? Get in touch, and we will be happy to help!
In the meantime, I will leave you with a city map
of Los Angeles, California, in 1984 (1)
As always, thank you for your support, and please help me reach more people by sharing these blog posts with your friends, family, and colleagues! To know when a new blog post is out, you can follow us on Instagram and Facebook.
Gracias!
Citlalli
God wills. Man dreams. The work is born.
-Fernando Pessoa
References:
(1) Created/Published by:
[Los Angeles?] Semi-Tropic Homestead Co. [1894]
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Special thanks to my editor, Ilya Godes!
Citlalli is an architect and a mom who enjoys finding the extraordinary around us and understanding what makes each person thrive.
She believes that art and good design should be accessible, and her motivation is to help build a better world for the next generations.
She has worked on residential and commercial projects for over 15 years. She decided to open her studio in Los Angeles, California, to make great design available and affordable to more people.
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